Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Beachy Summer Hair (#NYMBeachBabe)

How many of you have perfect hair that air dries into beachy waves?  If you raised your hand, we aren't friends anymore.  That just isn't fair!  Until now, I've had to use a combination of products and prayers to try to get some semi-decent waves in my hair.  Even though my hair is naturally wavy, I straighten it daily because it's actually easier than trying to get those perfect waves!  Whenever I try to wear my hair wavy, it's either too flat, too frizzy, not enough wave, etc.  I could never get it just right...until now!

Enter the Not Your Mother's Beach Babe collection (#NYMBeachBabe)!  Not only do they have a cute brand name, but their products work!  (Scroll down for individual product links!)

I received the Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Shampoo and Conditioner complimentary from Influenster to review.  The products smell DELICIOUS.  Like, I almost wanted to eat it.  They smell like some sort of tropical candy or beverage and it just makes me feel like I'm at the beach!  I love that the shampoo and conditioner are sulfate-free.  The shampoo and conditioner I normally use are also sulfate free so I was happy to forgo the sulfates again.  These products really brought out the waves in my hair without making my hair feel heavy or weighed down.  I'm really anxious to try the shampoo/conditioner WITH the texturing sea salt spray!  Just for kicks, I decided to use this shampoo on a straight hair day too.  My hair smelled delicious and felt extremely soft after blow drying.  After a little humidity, my hair poofed up and got a little wavy.  These products really do bring out the waves!


Here's a look at the products in this line (click on the picture to get more info):
 


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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Do You Jamberry?

I'll be honest, when I first saw something about Jamberry Nail Wraps, I was intrigued.  Intrigued enough to purchase?  I'm not so sure.  The Jamberry consultants claim the wraps are "simple to apply and remove", "last for weeks", "dry immediately after application", etc.  WELL, as a mom to an infant and toddler, "dry immediately after application" sounded  very appealing to me.  I checked out the Jamberry website and spent longer than I'd like to admit checking out all of the amazing design choices.  Did you know you can get wraps to support your favorite sports team?  If you aren't into flashy patterns, they have solid color wraps and even a classic french manicure wrap!

If you haven't heard of Jamberry, here's a brief description:
Jamberry Nail wraps are the newest trend in nail fashion and offer over 350 styles! They're beyond easy to apply and last 2-3 weeks on fingers and 4-6 weeks on toes.

* No fumes, chemicals, or mess
* No drying time, chipping or smearing
* Simple, do-it-yourself application
* MADE IN THE USA

Jamberry Nail wraps are a super thin piece of vinyl covering that can be applied directly to the nail to achieve a look not found anywhere else. The wrap is heat and pressure activated to create a waterproof bond to your nail. No chips, scuffs, or smudges for the entire life of your Jamberry manicure or pedicure!


When I went to pick out a wrap, I had such a hard time deciding.  I think what made my decision so hard was knowing that my nails could be this way for 2 weeks or more!  I decided to go with "Carmen Ombre".  It's definitely more exciting than my normal go-to pink polish, but still subtle enough that it will look fine for every day wear.  (I can imagine becoming a true Jamberry addict and changing my wraps much more frequently, though!)

Here's a look at my nails on Day 1.  The wraps were super easy to apply!  (See below for application instructions.)

Applying Your Jamberry Nail Wraps:




My Jamberry wraps got tons of comments and compliments from friends and even strangers!  I was skeptical about Jamberry's claims that the wraps will last so long, but they really did!  Here's a look at my wraps after 2 whole weeks.  Remember, this is 2 weeks of taking care of a newborn and a toddler, using cleaning products, and not being gentle with my nails.  The ONLY reason I was ready to remove the wraps is because my nail beds were exposed from normal growth.  Everything else still looked great!



Once I was ready to remove the wraps, I was a little nervous.  There are so many different methods you can use.  The method I found on Jamberry's website said to soak your nails in nailpolish remover.  I wasn't interested in soaking my fingers in straight acetone (which is all that I had) so I filled my sink up with some warm water and a splash of my acetone.  I only had to soak my nails for a few seconds before gently lifting the wrap up and peeling it off.  I only had some residual adhesive on a few nails and that was easily removed with my nail polish remover.  Another great thing about these wraps is that they do not damage your nails AT ALL (unlike gel/shellac manicures)!

If you're interested in trying out some wraps (which you totally should), you can shop here.

Check out my friend's Jamberry Instagram or Facebook to see all the latest tips, trends, and deals!


Just to give you an idea, here's a look I did with regular polish and Jamberry as an accent nail.  Obviously the polish just didn't last!


*I received this product complimentary for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

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